Chinese Weaving Shuttle, circa 1850

Scholarly pursuits such as painting, calligraphy, and poetry were a highly respected and revered subculture in ancient China, and demanded their own set of tools that were not only functional, but also beautiful. One of the "Four Treasures of the Study," inkstones such as this were used to mix dry ink with water for use in calligraphy painting. This 19th century inkstone is guarded by a mythical fu dog, or shizi, depicted with open jaws and a long mane of flowing curls. Resembling a Buddhist fly whisk...

Crafted of painted, lacquered hide, this extraordinary headrest was created in China's Jiangxi province over 150 years ago. Its pliable design enabled contour comfort - quite luxurio...

Prevalent in fine Chinese interiors as early as the Tang dynasty (618-906), standing screens with decorative stone panels served numerous functions as portable architecture. Used to ...

A full size bookcase with this level of workmanship and detail would be an incredible find, but this beautiful piece of furniture—at only ten inches tall—is perfectly constructed dow...

Spanish, vintage hand painted wooden dog with stuck out tongue, from an old fair ground Carousel.

A pair of finely carved wood statues depicting near mirror images of two Bodhisattvas, likely dated to 19th century of late Qing dynasty, but executed in Song style. Dressed in flowing robes, crowned and bejeweled, these Bodhisattvas are known as Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit. In China, his identify took a cultural transformation and became Guanyin (the one who detects the sounds of the world), who is worshipped for her compassion and mercy for those in the sufferings. Both posed in the seated "Royal Ease...

Beautiful 19th century Italian porcelain Maiden and her child statue from the 1850s. A damage at the back of the maiden has been renovated. Beautiful qu...

One of several arresting sculptures by Danish contemporary ceramist Aage Birck, in which he incorporates the tools from other arts into his work, using them as details or ornamentati...